Denali National Park weather in November

November in Denali National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Denali National Park🇺🇸 United States · Alaska & the Far North · National park35
  1. 30Jan
  2. 39Feb
  3. 50Mar
  4. 71Apr
  5. 84May
  6. 92Jun
  7. 88Jul
  8. 79Aug
  9. 75Sep
  10. 59Oct
  11. 35Nov
  12. 27Dec

#10 of 12 months in Denali National Park · #1372 of 1413 destinations to visit in November · comfort 35/100 (tier F)

Days
-9°C
Nights
-14°C
Wet days
9
Sun
2.2 h
Humidity
77%
Daylight
7 h
Denali National Park, United States
Photo: John Fairchild · Pexels

Traveller notes on Denali National Park in November

Other months in Denali National Park

Denali-forum threads on a February visit describe the park road as genuinely closed for winter at mile three, right around headquarters, posters naming this the standard cutoff. Regulars call the park genuinely still open year-round despite this, several posters naming very limited services as the real tradeoff. Posters call the road capable of opening further, several regulars naming roughly mile twelve or thirteen around February fifteenth as typical, conditions permitting, timed for the winter carnival the last weekend of the month. Regulars call February temperatures genuinely extreme, several threads naming a range anywhere from zero to negative fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Posters recommend the Murie Science and Learning Center as the standard winter visitor center, several regulars naming dog sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as the real activities available. The record: -10.7C days, -16.2C nights, 24.6mm across over 7 days and 72 percent humidity.
DenaliFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Denali-forum threads on an October visit describe the park's shuttle buses as already stopped for the season, service typically ending the second week of September regardless of how the weather holds afterward. Regulars call October considerably colder with a real chance of accumulation, park road access dependent entirely on whether snow has fallen and how much. Posters call the road capable of closing as early as mile three at park headquarters once conditions turn, real caution warranted for anyone hoping to drive in. Regulars call October activity inside the park itself genuinely minimal, snowshoeing or dog sledding about the only realistic ways in in a bad year. Posters recommend Healy as a solid year-round base regardless of park conditions, hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants there staying open when the park itself winds down. The record: 1.1C days feeling like -1C, -3.7C nights, an extraordinarily high 60.1mm across over 12 days and 74 percent humidity.
DenaliOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Denali-forum threads on a September visit describe this as genuinely the end of the season, posters calling most businesses in the park entrance area closed by mid-month though several stay open through the 24th. Regulars call the fall colors a real highlight, the tundra turning a striking gold and red that summer visitors never see. Posters describe shuttle buses and ranger programs as winding down through the month, real planning needed around which services remain running on any given date. Regulars call a slight chance of aurora a genuine bonus this late in the season, dark skies finally returning as daylight shortens. Posters recommend real cold-weather layers regardless of forecast, mornings here turning properly crisp well before the calendar says autumn. Regulars call the park never actually closing, road access and hiking still possible even once the shuttle season wraps. The record: 9.5C days feeling like 7C, 4C nights, 97.2mm across nearly 17 days and 80 percent humidity.
DenaliSeptemberRegular · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Denali-forum threads on a late-May trip confirm the shuttle bus season is just getting underway, service to Toklat typically starting around the twentieth with the longer Wonder Lake route not opening until well into June. Posters describe the tundra as still largely brown rather than green this early, real accumulation on the ground and along higher sections of the road still common. Regulars call temperatures genuinely variable, some years seeing the fifties Fahrenheit, others a late-season system dropping things back toward winter. Posters recommend real layers regardless of forecast, weather here shifting fast and without much warning. Regulars call late May noticeably less crowded than the July peak. Posters call the visible mountain a real bonus this early, haze and cloud more common later in the season. The record: 11.1C days feeling like 8C, 2.3C nights, a notably high 2.7cm of fresh accumulation and 68 percent humidity.
DenaliMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Denali National Park climate normals — November

Daytime high-9°C / 15°F🥶 freezing
Nighttime low-14°C / 7°F
Feels like (high)-14°C / 7°F
Rainfall37 mm / 1.4 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days9 days
Humidity77%💦 very humid
Dew point-15°C / 5°F
Sunshine2.2 h/day
Daylight6.6 h
Wind12 km/h / 7 mph
Snowfall49.9 cm / 19.6 in
Air quality (US AQI)35🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Denali National Park in November

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

BusyThanksgiving break in United States(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Denali National Park's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Toughest weatherDenali National Park's weather peaks May–July, best around June.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Denali National Park in November

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Closure

    Park Road closed at Mile 43

    1 Jan – 31 Dec

    A landslide at Pretty Rocks took out the road halfway along. A new bridge opened in August 2026 for hikers and cyclists only; buses still stop at Mile 43. Wonder Lake, Kantishna and the classic view from Reflection Pond stay out of reach until full bus service resumes. Check the park's conditions page first. Source ↗

  • Nature

    Winter aurora season

    21 Oct – 9 Apr · usually

    The road is ploughed only to mile 3 and everything past it is skis, snowshoes or a dog team, with the winter visitor centre the one thing open. The trade for that is dark, empty nights under the lights. Source ↗

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 50 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in November →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Denali National Park — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Denali National Park?

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Denali National Park in November — FAQ

Is November a good time to visit Denali National Park?
November in Denali National Park: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing. It ranks #10 of 12 months for Denali National Park on SeasonMap's comfort score (35/100).
What is the weather like in Denali National Park in November?
In November, Denali National Park averages a daily high of -9.3°C and a low of -14.1°C, with about 36.8 mm of rain over roughly 8.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Denali National Park in November?
Denali National Park has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 35 in November.
Does it snow in Denali National Park in November?
Denali National Park sees roughly 49.9 cm of snowfall in November.

Within 300 km: Anchorage's Aurora season on 20 Aug – 15 Apr.